Produce Safety Program celebrates five years and a new leader

Kathy Davis, Communications

Dr. Connie Fisk

In 2017, WSDA welcomed a brand new program to the agency. Funded by a five-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Produce Safety Program was created to help Washington State comply with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. 

When FSMA was signed into law in 2011, it represented sweeping reform to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. 

The Produce Safety Program just received approval for another five years of FDA funding. And the program heads into their next phase with a new leader at the helm. Dr. Connie Fisk started as the program manager on June 28. 

Connie is a recognized national leader in produce safety extension and outreach. She most recently supported growers, trainers, and regulators as the Northwest regional extension associate for the Produce Safety Alliance at Cornell University where she worked on curriculum and resource development and mentored PSA trainers about best practices. 

Connie said, “I am passionate about equipping produce growers with the information and skills they need to provide safe, high-quality crops for market, and to comply with government requirements.”

Along with training and outreach, the Produce Safety Program inspects farms and enforces the federal rule. The Produce Safety Rule includes requirements for on-farm practices to reduce risks associated with the quality of water used on produce, soil amendments, animals (domestic and wild) on the property, and worker health and hygiene. 

Karen Ullmann and Kelly Morales compare inspection notes.

In just five short years, this committed program team has taken great strides in carrying out their purpose. Below are some key accomplishments. 

Education

• Conducted 65 On-Farm Readiness Reviews, non-regulatory, educational assessments that help farms comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.  
• Trained approximately 1,700 growers on FSMA through the program’s support of 60 FDA-recognized trainings statewide. 
• Conducted 30 additional produce industry presentations and attended over 150 statewide conferences, regional workshops and grower meetings.

Compliance 

• Established the agency’s first produce safety inspection program and began compliance activities in 2019  
• Conducted over 90 Produce Safety Rule inspections in just two years, including one shortened by the pandemic and wildfires
• Developed an inventory of 2,740 produce farms from multiple public sources, along with individual outreach and mass-mailer campaigns 
• Verified compliance status of 43% of farms in the new database, FoodPro, shared with the Food Safety Program. FoodPro provides greater customization and enables electronic on-farm inspections.

Looking ahead, the program’s strategic priorities include continued education, outreach, and technical assistance to the state’s produce industry, and focusing regulatory inspections on quality and national consistency.

Jill Wisehart and Beth Lorence offer educational material
at an outreach event.

“As WSDA’s produce safety role grows in national influence, Connie is the right leader for the job,” noted Steve Fuller, assistant director of the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. 

So the next time you enjoy some fresh Washington-grown produce from a farmers market or grocery store, consider the importance of the Produce Safety Program. As they gear up for the future, they will continue to help state fruit and vegetable growers safeguard the food supply for all consumers. 

In summary: Five years ago, WSDA welcomed a brand new program to the agency. In that time, the Produce Safety Program has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments. And the program heads into their next phase with a new leader at the helm. Meet Dr. Connie Fisk, who started as the program manager on June 28. 

Wilderness First Aid training prepares employees for field emergencies

Jason Gambill, Safety Office

Nathan Chambers pretends to have a medical
emergency as other employees practice how to respond. 

Many WSDA employees work alone in isolated outdoor areas. Whether doing inspections, collecting samples or other field work, they may be navigating trails and hazardous terrain. Having the skills to treat an injury or illness in such an environment is a safety priority. 

That’s why the agency’s Safety Program has begun providing Wilderness First Aid training for our staff. The two-day course, provided by the vendor Northwest Response, includes one day of classroom instruction and a second day in an outdoor location that simulates wilderness conditions. 

The first of these trainings was held on May 24-25 in the Olympia area. Staff participating in this inaugural training represented the Plant Pathology Lab, Pesticide Compliance, Dairy Nutrient Management Program and the Safety Program. 

Wilderness First Aid
students practice dragging a
patient to safety. 

Participants spent the first day in a Cleveland Building conference room learning about types of injuries and treatment methods. The second day, they got to practice in simulated situations at Priest Point Park.

The instructor for this course believes in making these simulations as real as possible,  even using fake blood and makeup to create real looking wounds. Course participants were taken by surprise when they cut open the pant legs of an “injured” colleague to reveal an open fracture wound.

“The training was really good,” said Rusty Sauls, Pesticide Compliance Program.  

“We reviewed what to do with different injury or illness situations and then performed the treatment in real life scenarios, including spinal injuries, diabetic shock, broken bones and even compound fractures. We had to decide whether and how to move a person using the proper method and perform the proper treatment.”

Rusty Sauls acts as patient in 
Wilderness First Aid scenerio.

The Safety Program is funding these training opportunities. We’ve listened to employee input from the annual State Safety Survey indicating they wanted more specialized training for the types of work WSDA does.  

The course requires at least ten participants and access to a classroom and a public park or other outdoor setting for the hands-on portion of training. The vendor is willing to travel to other areas of the state.

Telissa Wilson tries on 
a warming thermal suit. 

“This is a type of course and opportunity every employee should attend, because these skills are very valuable in everyday life,” Telissa Wilson, Plant Pathology, said.

For more details about this training, visit the Northwest Response website. Contact the Safety Program at agsafety@agr.wa.gov if you or your program is interested in attending or scheduling Wilderness First Aid training. 

In summary: The Safety Program has begun providing Wilderness First Aid training for our staff.  The first of these was held on May 24-25 in the Olympia area. Staff participating represented the Plant Pathology Lab, Pesticide Compliance, Dairy Nutrient Management Program and the Safety Program. The two-day course includes one day of classroom instruction and a second day in an outdoor location that simulates wilderness conditions. 

Blanche Sobottke combined many skills for long career

 Communications Office

Blanche in her home office.

When Blanche Sobottke retires from WSDA at the end of June, she’ll leave behind a trail of evidence showing you can build a career by transferring skills from one profession to another. Her resume’ describes her professional history as “a useful mix of science, art, engineering, management, public service and private practice.”  

Over 20 years of that history was spent at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), where she began as a park planner, supervised a team of graphic designers, and finished out as the agency editor. 

”Despite my own yard being in desperate need of attention, my landscape architectural training created a good foundation for all the jobs that followed,” Blanche said. 

“There are some basic principles that apply equally to the design of a park or publication,” she continued. “You want things to flow. You want people’s attention to go to the right places and the parts to support each other. You need to see both the big picture and the small details, and how they work together.”

WSDA projects

Blanche had been freelancing for a couple of years when approached by WSDA in 2009 to help the Food Safety Program create guidance materials and write a plan for the as-yet-to-be-developed Rapid Response Team. 

Blanche knew nothing about food safety, but had been exposed to emergency response and the Incident Command System while at DNR. She had the writing skills needed and the timing was right.

“During the recession, there was a freeze on personal service contracts. Most of my clients had been state agencies. This opportunity came along, and it meant I wouldn’t have to chase work in Olympia while trying to help my elderly mom in Ohio. I had no desk in the NRB, but with a laptop and cell phone, I could work from anywhere. I felt very fortunate. Still do.”

Over time, the work expanded. The Fee Workgroup needed assistance. The Honey Bee Workgroup needed a writer and facilitator. The Director’s Office needed help with a Results Washington presentation and a new strategic plan. 

Strategic planning

Blanche's early agriculture experience in Ohio.

“I got the call about the strategic plan because I had been recommended as a freelancer. They didn’t know I was already an employee, but being one made it much easier for everyone,” Blanche noted. 

Eventually, Blanche and the strategic planning function moved to the Performance and Planning Management Office, and other projects across the agency came her way. 

“The wide variety of projects and subjects I’ve worked on has been the best thing about my career path. I haven’t felt boxed in, and I’ve learned a lot. I also like that a lot of my work has been to help make things better, whether by renovating an interpretive trail or helping someone rewrite a paragraph. And I’ve met some great people along the way.”

Though she’s retiring, Blanche is looking ahead. When asked about her plans for retirement she’ll tell you, “Clean my house. Work in my yard. Take care of my mom. Make a little art. Play a little music. Just putting one foot in front of the other and seeing what comes next.”

WSDA wishes you all the best ahead. Thanks Blanche!

In summary: When Blanche Sobottke retires from WSDA at the end of June, she’ll leave behind a trail of evidence showing you can build a career by transferring skills from one profession to another. Her resume’ describes her professional history as “a useful mix of science, art, engineering, management, public service and private practice.” Read about her professional journey in the latest Insider blog post.  

Six WSDA labs will move to new custom-designed facility

Kathy Davis, Communications

Architect's image of new lab rooms in L&I building.  

By fall of next year, six WSDA laboratories will relocate to a brand new building in space custom-designed for their work. 

Two years ago, the Legislature included $53.2 million in the capital budget for the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to construct the Safety & Health Laboratory and Training Center in Tumwater near the L&I headquarters. 

Since the project was conceived, WSDA has been partnering with L&I to co-locate in the building with our own lab space.  

All four Food Safety and Consumer Services Division labs will move from their current spaces in the building on Cleveland Avenue in Tumwater. They include the food microbiology, dairy, animal feed, and emergency response/research laboratories. 

Drawing of aerial view of new building. 

In addition, the plant pathology lab on Cleveland, and the entomology lab currently housed in the Natural Resources Building will relocate to the new L&I facility. Both of these labs are part of the Plant Protection Division. 

Not designed for labs

The “Cleveland building” (as it’s known) was originally a warehouse and not designed to accommodate modern labs. The aging building has developed problems with electrical and HVAC systems. 

The floor of the second story, which was added, is unstable requiring lab equipment to be continually recalibrated. Staff have to carry boxes up and down narrow stairways because the building has no elevator. 

“We’ve done all we can with a converted canning facility,” said Brad White, assistant director of the Plant Protection Division, referring to the Cleveland building. “We cannot add further infrastructure without prohibitive costs.”

Plant Protection staff will be able to add new molecular diagnostic processes that require a higher degree of sanitation and air handling.

Two views of front entrance. 

UPDATED 

Groundbreaking Nov. 1

“When it’s all done, we’ll have a bright, brand-new building at relatively low cost,” said Steve Fuller, assistant director for Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. “We expect this to set up our lab operations for success over the next three to four decades.” 

“The new facility is designed as a laboratory, so materials receiving, storage and cleanup will be much easier and safer. Laboratory equipment will be solidly housed and protected,” Brad said.

“Ultimately, we have seen what our people can do with less-than-ideal conditions, and I’m excited about what they can do in top-flight accommodations,” he added. 

L&I has scheduled a groundbreaking event for Nov. 1, 2021 and WSDA leaders will be on hand to make comments. 

In summary: By fall of next year, six WSDA laboratories will relocate to a brand new building in space custom-designed for their work and being constructed by the Department of Labor & Industries in Tumwater. Since the project was conceived, WSDA has been partnering with L&I to include lab space we could lease. All four Food Safety and Consumer Services Division labs will move in, as will the plant pathology and entomology labs with the Plant Protection Division. 

 

Five win prizes in latest QUICK Award drawing

Kathy Davis, Communications

Diane Tsao

Five WSDA employees became eligible to select a prize because their names were randomly selected from the full list of all those receiving a QUICK Awards during the first quarter of 2021. Agencywide, employees handed out 48 awards to their coworkers, with 31 awarded in Eastern Washington and 17 in Western Washington.

QUICK Awards are presented by employees who see their peers demonstrating good work and service to others – either inside or outside the agency. Below are the prize recipients from the most recent drawing.

Luisa Castro – Food Safety and Consumer Services, Food Safety, Olympia

For participating in the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Phase I evaluation process. Your expertise, time, and thoughtful evaluation of proposals ensure that WSDA selects the most promising projects with the greatest impact to Washington's specialty crop industry. We appreciate your time and hard work. Thank you! - Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Jorge Contreras – Plant Protection, Laboratory, Yakima

Luisa Castro

Jorge shoveled the snow along the walkway in front of the employees entrance at the Yakima building on February 16 after the massive snow storm we had over the weekend. Way to go Jorge, thinking of your coworkers safety! – Theresa Otto  

Gloriann Robinson – Administrative Services, Administrative Regulations, Olympia

For helping out with the RFP, subsequent interviews, and selection of a bidder to conduct an economic and social impacts study of Washington's agricultural fairs. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to help out and I'm very grateful for it and your interest in the program. - Teresa Norman 

Randy Smidt – Commodity Inspection, Fruit  and Vegetable Inspection, Yakima

Jorge Contreras

In recognition of Randy’s support to the Yakima admin team. He demonstrated willingness to lend a hand that went above his usual duties. We appreciate you greatly. Thank You! – Yakima F&V Admin Team  

Diane Tsao – Commodity Inspection, Fruit  and Vegetable Inspection, Chelan

Thank You Diane for your help testing the non-GMO certificate and writing the tutorial for staff. You presented the information clearly, concisely and logically while focusing on the key points to make all successful! – Bill Walker 

Congratulations to all WSDA employees, listed below, who were recognized with a QUICK Award from a colleague between January 1 and March 31, 2021. 

Western Washington

Gloriann Robinson

Beth Lorence, Hannah Flournoy, Jeni Cena, Jennifer Falacy, Joel Demory, Karen Ullmann, Leslie Michel, Megan Finkenbinder, Nathan Chambers, Rianne Perry, Ric Torgerson, Sapphitah Dickerson, Scott Rice, Telissa Wilson

Eastern Washington

Aaron Heilman, Abigail Nickelson, Alvaro Ambriz, Andy Bommersbach, Anthony Chaney, Art Rodrigues, Caleb James, Cassandra Givens, Daniel Valencia, Emily Oberhoffer, Epi Rodriguez, Erica Venegas, Ivan Guzman, Jairo Ambriz, Jeremy Phillips, Jessica Rimestad, Jon Peton, Jose Guevara, Jose Mendiola, Leslie Parker, Lisa Parker, Madison Moore, Max King, Nicholas Caballero, Sarah Pugh

June 30 next drawing deadline

When you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, why not let them know with a QUICK Award? You can find the award form on the intranet. Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: WSDA staff presented 48 QUICK Awards during the first quarter of 2021. Five names were randomly drawn to receive prizes. See who they are and why they were recognized by their colleagues. 

Safety first; employees learn whitewater river rescue

 Robert Ambriz, Safety Program

Katie Noland diving into whitewater during river
rescue training.

This year for the first time, the WSDA Safety Program purchased river rescue training from Wet Planet Whitewater for the Pest Program and the Natural Resources Assessment Section (NRAS). 

During April, seven WSDA staffers took part in this three-day course that’s designed for those who work on or around rivers. The training, which was held in White Salmon, uses scenario-based rescue situations to teach how to respond when a river rescue is necessary. Participants earn internationally recognized certification. 

Those participating in the first course offered April 20-23 were Brad Blowers, Chad Philips, McKenzie Watson and Jonathan Still, whose work takes place in or near the water as they to treat and eliminate Spartina, an aggressive, invasive weed.

On April 28-30, NRAS participants were Katie Noland, Matthew Bischof, and Abigail Nickelson. These employees wade into rivers and streams to collect water samples for pesticide monitoring. 

The instructor explained what a river rescue is and why it’s important. He described how to check the river’s flow and develop a rescue action plan. He also covered communication, roles, equipment, and area awareness. 

Rescue skills

Abigail Nickelson practices throwing
a water rescue bag. 

An important part of the training is learning how to use the “throw bag” - a floatable bag stuffed with rope. The rescuer holds one end of the rope and throws the bag with their other hand. The rope uncoils from the bag as it soars through the air. 

The instructor demonstrated how to use a throw bag, and then participants practiced in teams of three. 

The trick to tossing the bags is to let the person in distress reach for the rope - not the bag – so there’s less rope to reel in. After throwing the bag, placing the rope behind the rescuer’s back prevents them from being dragged into the water. They must maintain support and hold on tight.

Next, participants put on wet suits and headed into the river. Everyone had to jump into the river and swim against the strong current to get to the other side. To take the course, you must have moderate to excellent swimming skills. Still, this was not easy!

Everyone in class had a chance to be submerged underwater, toss the throw bag, and rescue one other person. 

After all participants were exhausted, they took off the dry suits and learned how to tie knots. 

Matt Bischof reads the river. 

Prepared for the unpredictable

“I feel very fortunate to work for an agency that prioritizes workplace safety,” said Katie Noland with NRAS. “For those of us in the field, it’s important to have trainings such as these to make sure we feel comfortable when the unpredictable happens. 

“Although I don’t plan on swimming through class 3 rapids again like I did in the training, I now know how to read the water and swim to safety,” Katie continued. “The streams we wade in have flows that can rise by the minute, so it’s valuable to know when to get out and what to do if something goes wrong.”

Wet Planet did an amazing job and as did the trainees, who showed tremendous heart and dedication under what would be a dangerous circumstance. 

In summary: This year for the first time, the WSDA Safety Program purchased river rescue training for the Pest Program and the Natural Resources Assessment Section. During April, seven WSDA staffers took part in this three-day course that’s designed for those who work on or around rivers. Read about the training in this Insider blog post. 

Overview results of legislative session for WSDA

 WSDA Policy Office and Financial Services

The Legislature approved new work and funding
to implement pollinator health recommendations.

The 2021 legislative session, which ended on April 25, was productive for WSDA. It resulted in just over $101 million in newly funded initiatives included in the 2021-23 biennial budget, and two out of our three agency request bills being passed. 

The operating budget also contains some good news for state employees. Furloughs proposed last year due to economic uncertainty were cancelled. Non-represented staff who had to forgo a salary increase last year due to COVID-19 will receive a three percent raise increase on July 1. 

WSDA also took two budget reductions; a onetime vacancy decrease of $1.49 million, and an ongoing overhead reduction of $821,000. 

Below, we list bills by their number (SB for Senate Bill or HB for House Bill). To get more details, go to the Bill Information webpage and put the number only in the search box at the top of the page. 

Legislation the agency requested

SB 5317 provides for pesticide safety reform. Increases in fees for pesticide registration and application licensing will generate $2.1 million annually to support new staff positions for pesticide safety, technical assistance, training, and science support. 

WSDA’s Pesticide Technical Services and Education Program
conducting on-farm airblast technical assistance in Grandview
in March. Our pesticide safety activities will be expanded under
new legislation.

SB 5318 makes the agency’s fertilizer registration services budget solvent by approving its first fee increase in over 20 years.

SB 5300, which would have banned the feeding of garbage containing meat to swine, did not pass, although it got through the Senate and House. It will be reintroduced next session and start further along in the process. 

Other bills of note

The following bills were not requested by WSDA, but they will have major impacts on the agency. 

SB 5253 implements the pollinator health task force recommendations, including new work and funding in both Plant Protection and Pesticide Management divisions. A total of $625,000 was provided from two different fund sources for WSDA to implement this bill. 

SB 5372 creates voluntary registration for hemp processors and funds the creation of a hemp extracts certification program in the Food Safety Program. This should improve market access for Washington hemp growers and processors. To make the rules for this bill, the agency received $120,000. 

SB 5141 creates a new environmental justice assessment process for all significant agency actions by 2023. The budget includes $144,000 to begin creating this new assessment process.

HB 1355 makes technical changes and cleans up some issues in the noxious weed control statute.

Funding provided in budget

The 2021-23 budget approved by the Legislature (pending Gov. Inslee’s signature) contains funds for several agency initiatives and ongoing work. Dollar amounts listed below are one-time funding for the next biennium, unless noted as ongoing. 

Plant Protection

• Japanese beetle monitoring and eradication - $406,000
• Asian giant hornet continued detection and eradication - $388,000 state and $1.134 million federal
• Gypsy moth eradication and follow-up monitoring - $190,000 state and $564,000 federal 
• Electric vehicle equipment; rulemaking for SB 5192 - $152,000

  

  A Walla Walla nonprofit displays food from a local
  farm, received with help from WSDA’s hunger relief
  efforts, which will be expanded with increased funding.

Food supply and markets

• Enhanced Emergency Food Assistance Program to expand capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic - $23 million federal appropriation
• Local food system infrastructure and market access grants prioritized for women, minority, and small business owners - $8 million federal appropriation
• Food supply chain infrastructure and market access grants for farms, food processers, and food distributors - $9 million federal appropriation
• Farm to School Program to help schools purchase and distribute local foods - $5 million federal appropriation
• State farmers to families food box program as alternative to USDA food box program - $45 million

Pesticide Management

• Dairy Nutrient Management Program position - $304,000 ongoing 

Food Safety and Consumer Services

• Food Safety lab ISO (international standards) certification - $210,000 ongoing
• Meat and poultry processing technical assistance and grants - $4 million

Director’s Office

• 

  Sorting mussels at the Penn Cove Shellfish Farm in
  2019. WSDA’s aquaculture coordinator position,
  which supports this industry, was funded.

  Equity in farming proviso to coordinate and report efforts to ensure inclusion of  historically
  underrepresented farmers and ranchers - $180,000
• Shellfish grants to continue research on alternatives to imidacloprid to address impacts of burrowing shrimp in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor - $1.4 million
• Pesticide water quality testing increase - $200,000 ongoing
• Aquaculture position to coordinate activities, including educating industry of regulatory requirements and working with other agencies to streamline permitting  - $340,000 ongoing
• Northeast Washington wolf-livestock management grants for nonlethal deterrence of wolf predation on livestock - $952,000 ongoing
• Agricultural fairs transfer from state general fund to fair account is increased each fiscal year from $2 million up to $4 million in fiscal year 2026 and ongoing thereafter

In summary: The 2021 legislative session, which ended on April 25, was productive for WSDA. It resulted in just over $101 million in newly funded initiatives included in the 2021-23 biennial budget, and two out of our three agency request bills being passed. The Insider presents a high-level summary of session results.